Page 39 of F*ck Steal Kill

“What are you hiding?” he whispered. “I know there’s something you haven’t told us.”

Sighing, I knew I couldn’t hold it in any longer and spilled everything. I disclosed the information I’d found on Ava Savage and my fear she’d be used in the war against the Savages.

“Are you mad?” I asked once I was done. He’d been quiet the whole time, letting me speak.

“Only that you thought I could harm an innocent girl. We’ll talk more about this at the briefing. Sleep. Our girl will be here soon.”

His lips pressed into my skin, and my heart took off at his words and the gentle kiss, and I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to fall asleep.

But somehow, my body relaxed, falling into a deep and blissful rest despite it.

CHAPTER 15

HOLLAND

I stared at my coffee mug, my face resting in my hand as I leaned against the kitchen island. It had been really late when I returned, and I’d only gotten a few hours of sleep. I needed the world’s largest coffee today. I didn’t have it in me to deal with anyone’s shit.

Fingers snapped in front of my face, and I looked up, meeting Lacey’s scrunched brows. “What’s with you?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Tired,” I mumbled, bringing my mug closer to my mouth so I could sip some of its goodness.

“Besides that. There’s something else.”

I shrugged, not wanting to get into my time with Quentin and his possessive dick. Or that he’d claimed me and wanted to talk. But most definitely, I didn’t want to talk about how alluring it was. Nope, I wouldn’t give in to the relational pull and get all loved up. Because gross. That wasn’t the life for me.

I had my girls. I had the list. And I had my fun.

That was all I needed in life—end of discussion.

“Joy!” Lacey bellowed, startling me on the counter. “Holland is hiding something. Get in here and figure it out.”

Groaning, I placed my forehead on the counter, hitting my fist on the surface. “No. I don’t want to talk about it. I’m too tired. Last night’s job took a lot out of me,” I whined. I knew it was futile, but I had to try at least to persuade them otherwise.

Joy wrapped her arms around me in a hug, burrowing her chin into my neck. She rocked me back and forth, kissing my cheek as she started talking to me like a baby.

“What’s wrong, Holsy boo? What’s got my scaredy cat all coiled up this morning? Hmm?”

“I’m not a scaredy cat,” I mumbled, but her soothing antics coaxed me into a false sense of comfort.

“Yes, you are, and Lacey is my grumpy bear.”

Lacey grunted but didn’t deny the classification.

“Then who are you?” I asked, trying to buy myself some more time.

“Hmm, I’m more of a Harley Quinn type. A bit of sunshine, a bit of crazy, and a great ass.”

Chuckling, I lifted my head onto my arms, my eyes moving over to meet hers. Joy stared back, her pure heart in her golden-brown eyes as she waited me out. I flicked my gaze to Lacey, finding her sipping her coffee with a smug smile, her blue eyes alight with mirth.

“I hate you,” I hissed, sticking out my tongue.

“No, you don’t. And don’t act like you haven’t done the same thing. No one can refuse that face. It’s why she’s so great at what she does,” Lacey said, blowing me a kiss.

Sighing, I sat up, the movement causing Joy’s arms to fall from me. She took the stool next to me, again giving me her patient and loving smile.

“I am tired, and last night was hard. She was just a little girl.” Tears brimmed my eyes, the horror of what I’d witnessed surfacing. On the job, I blocked it all away, knowing I couldn’t focus on my feelings and get it done. But after, when it was all tied up in a neat little bow, then I’d fall apart as the reality of my actions played out in my memory.

Joy’s hand squeezed my thigh, her thumb rubbing gentle circles. “You saved her, Hols. She’s with her mom now, and she’ll get the help she needs. We’ll make sure of it.”

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